Key dates for the Ravens as the NFL offseason officially begins

"I bet you that there is going to be a significant change in that," said Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti when asked about the definition of a catch. (Kevin Richardson / Baltimore Sun video)

"I bet you that there is going to be a significant change in that," said Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti when asked about the definition of a catch. (Kevin Richardson / Baltimore Sun video)

CAPTION

The Philadelphia Eagles' Malcolm Jenkins, Chris Long and Torrey Smith have stated that they have no intention of visiting President Trump in the White House in honor of their team's victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII.

The Philadelphia Eagles' Malcolm Jenkins, Chris Long and Torrey Smith have stated that they have no intention of visiting President Trump in the White House in honor of their team's victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII.

The Super Bowl is over and that means every NFL team, except maybe for the Philadelphia Eagles, who are awaiting their championship parade Thursday, can turn its full attention to the 2018 season. The Ravens have been in that mode for weeks.

Given their salary cap constraints and their current pending free-agent class, the Ravens are not expected to use the franchise tag this year. The wide receiver-needy team will be monitoring whether any of the top pending free-agent receivers, a group headed by Sammy Watkins, Allen Robinson and Jarvis Landry, get franchised and taken off the open market.

Ravens officials will get their most extensive look at the top members of the 2018 NFL draft class in Indianapolis. Draft prospects participate in on-field workouts and physical and medical testing, and meet with NFL teams and reporters. Some nondraft business also figures to get done in Indianapolis with agents and executives from every NFL team on hand. Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome is expected to have his first news conference here since it was announced that he’ll step aside at the end of the 2018 season.

During this period, teams are permitted to express interest in and engage in contract negotiations with representatives of pending free agents. However, a contract cannot be fully completed until after 4 p.m. March 14. Most of the top free agents will know where they’re signing by the end of this negotiating window.

Free agency officially begins at 4 p.m. Before that, teams have to exercise player option clauses on 2018 contracts — the Ravens will have to make a decision on cornerback Brandon Carr — and submit contract tenders to exclusive-rights free agents. Running back Alex Collins is the Ravens’ primary exclusive-rights free agent. Teams also can officially execute trades from this point forward.

March 25-28: Annual league meetings, Orlando, Fla.

Rule changes will be discussed and voted on by NFL owners this week. The event also features media availability with head coaches and, in some cases, high-ranking team officials.

April 16:Teams with returning head coaches can begin offseason workout programs

Many of the Ravens players will be back at the team facility and accelerating their preparation for training camp under the guidance of Steve Saunders, the team’s director of performance.

The Ravens will be picking 16th in the first round April 26, and they’re expected to have eight total draft selections barring any trades. With the team lacking in offensive skill-position players and without much salary cap space, this will be one of the most important drafts for the Ravens in years.